Medusa Deluxe

The one-take movie is a fun concept. But the fact still remains that if the script isn't good, the concept isn't going to cover up that fact. This was actually the first one-take film I've seen that I haven't enjoyed. All the other ones have had a great script to back up the concept. On this occasion though I wonder if they were using it to mask the weakness of what they had to work with, rather than doing it for purely artistic reasons.

The first thing a film has to do is make you care, and this one never did. I never found a character I could relate to or even enjoy their presence on screen. And I was never given a reason to care about the murder-mystery. We never meet the person who is murdered or even see them murdered. We are just told and then expected to spend 90 minutes desperately wondering whodunnit. That's not possible to do.

A one-take whodunnit should have been an absolute dream film for me to enjoy, but if the execution isn't there then it doesn't matter. This one was sadly a big misfire for me. 3/10.

No pun intended - especially because it is a guy who has been done. The movie does start with the announcement of a police investigation. A police investigation we won't see much of by the way. We will stay and stick with the hairdressers and everyone.

This is a whodunnit, but it also is a look behind the scenes. It is a sort of love letter to hairdressers. That being said, do not expect this to be pulling any ... punches. The very first characters we see talk ... let's call it freely. You may feel it is rough and there are some anger issues for sure ... but it is also fun to watch.

What is fun to watch to a degree is the one shot thing. I did not detect any easy swipe or any other camera movement that would make it easy to cut and edit. Good acting ... good little movie.

The film, with its stunning long take, makes us feel as if we are walking alongside the characters, traversing various captivating settings and hypnotic scenes. Consequently, the beginning may appear bewildering and somewhat disorienting, as we adjust to the rapid influx of information: the breathtaking scenery, the characters' magnificent hair, their dialogues, understanding what is unfolding, among other aspects. Nevertheless, after this initial phase, we are thrust into the midst of a plot that consistently prompts us to question certainties, sow seeds of doubt, and introduce minor twists and turns. The film keeps us pondering all the time: "Where is this leading us?"

This sensation can also have a bittersweet taste, as some scenes appear shallow, lacking a proper conclusion. Regrettably, the conclusion of the story ends up being predictable and monotonous, which is disappointing. Furthermore, the decision to include a scene that seems to come out of a "scriptwriting manual," outside of the continuous shot, is debatable and should not have been included. This scene alters the perception of concepts that were subverted throughout the film, rendering them inconsistent with what had been built up until that point.

I wanted to watch a comedy and this film was listed as a comedy. First off, I am not adverse to what is called "black/dark comedy". Not at all. In fact I found "A Clockwork Orange" to be rife with "black/dark comedy". Also, thoroughly enjoyed "Tucker and Dale vs Evil". All that said, this film should not be listed in any genre of comedy. I watched it 3/4 through and there was not even one scene of any comedic merit. Nothing. In addition, the acting was often very bad, the dialogue was often awful and the overall story-line was disjointed and confusing. Not to mention the endless and TEDIOUS filler scenes of people going up or down stairs and walking through hallways. If you are looking for a comedy, skip this slop.

I randomly booked into see this film, knowing basically nothing about it apart from the two word synopsis "murder, hairdressing". Sign me up! It's got to be one of the most entertaining cinema experiences I've had in the last year.

Set backstage in a run-down events centre outside Preston bus-station, every character feels alive (a little stage-y perhaps). It's pretty funny, although it makes you wait for the darkest-of-dark humour to develop. The film is presented as a Children of Men-style real-time single shot and the camera's always following someone down a rabbit hole - it feels like there's always a lot more plot going on than perhaps there actually is. The whodunnit is not the most compelling thing about the film - it really nails it's atmosphere, characters, costumes and hair (naturally!)

It's beautifully filmed, soundtrack is great too - see it on the biggest screen you can find.